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Australia’s property sector is being urged to use readily available existing technologies to improve the long-term prospects for their properties, in a broader industry push towards net zero carbon buildings.

A new report from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and consultants Norman Disney & Young (NDY) identifies 50 best practice initiatives that can be used across a wide variety of new and existing properties.

CEFC property sector lead Chris Wade said the property sector was uniquely placed to be a major driver of energy efficiency, lower emissions and increased sustainability in Australia.

“Property accounts for almost a quarter of Australia’s carbon emissions, confirming there is a pressing need for action in this area. Through this report, we are highlighting a wide range of clean energy technologies that currently aren’t prescribed by the National Construction Code (NCC), but which are proven, readily available and can be deployed immediately,” Wade said.

“Importantly, these clean energy solutions offer property owners the potential to unlock billions of dollars in ongoing energy savings, and deliver positive investment returns. Two thirds of the initiatives have a payback period of less than 10 years, demonstrating the very strong commercial benefits of clean energy.”

The report, Energy in Buildings: 50 Best Practice Initiatives, details clean energy opportunities across a wide range of buildings, from offices, retail and hotels to industrial (e.g. warehouse, manufacturing and logistics), healthcare (e.g. hospitals and laboratories), common living (e.g. aged care and student accommodation) and education.

The practical guide indicates the climate zones where specific initiatives are likely to deliver the most positive benefits, and indicates potential upfront costs and typical payback periods.

NDY global director of sustainability, Tony Arnel, said its important to recognise that buildings designed now, for completion in two or three years, will enter a market where they will be competing with an increasing volume of higher performance building stock.

“This handbook will help guide investment decision making, drive the uptake of lower carbon and renewable energy solutions, and deliver real savings for asset owners and end users,” he said.

The peak body for sustainability in the built environment, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) is supporting a push towards zero carbon buildings by 2050.

It has reported that cost effective energy efficiency and fuel switching in buildings can more than halve their projected 2050 carbon emissions, with the use of distributed solar PV able to eliminate the remaining emissions.

The report includes a number of familiar technologies, such as solar PV, LED lighting and improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Other best practice initiatives measures include:

1. Light colour and reflective external materials, which typically cost less than 0.1 per cent of the building’s cost to implement and pay back in less than five years

2. Data analytics for building management systems in existing buildings, which typically cost less than 0.3 per cent of the building’s cost and have an investment payback period of less than five years

3. Electronically commutated fans, using microprocessor-controlled brushless motors, which also typically cost less than 0.3 per cent of the building’s cost to implement and pay back in less than five years.

Download the report: http://www.ndy.com/news/media_releases/new-report-helps-property-sector-move-towards-net-zero-carbon-buildings

Funding boost

The CEFC has recently stepped up its investments in property, as part of its Sustainable Cities investment program.

It’s substantial investment pipeline includes some 20 potential projects, seeking an estimated $1.5 billion in CEFC finance, towards projects valued at more than $5.5 billion.

This includes committing an additional $180 million in finance to the NAB EEB program, following its overwhelming success in helping businesses transform their energy use.

The new finance means the CEFC has now committed $300 million to the NAB program, which was launched in 2015 with an initial $120 million commitment from the CEFC.

The EEB program provides customers with a 0.7 per cent discount on NAB’s standard equipment finance rate for loans for eligible clean energy investments, such as solar PV, building upgrades, lighting upgrades, and refrigeration.

CEFC head of portfolio management Paul Greenop said the program had already provided finance for more than 1,000 clean energy assets across Australia.